THE funniest joke voted at this years Edinburgh Festival Fringe has raised little more than a wry smile from one of Britain’s most active conservation bodies – because it is too close to the knuckle – or prickle in this case.

Comic Dan Antopolski was given the award by the Dave TV channel with the joke: "Hedgehogs. Why can't they just share the hedge?"

This caused a wry smile at the Shropshire HQ of the British Hedgehog Protection Society, which has some 11,000 members. They commented:

“Whilst the Society can see the humour in the joke, there is also a lot of truth in it! Hedgehogs, as their name suggests do tend to stick to edges of gardens, fields, etc and they do like to ‘hog their patch’! They aren’t territorial but do like their own space, and usually only spend much time together when mating, or when the female is rearing young.

“”With less and less hedges being available to hog, hedgehogs are sadly in decline, gardens are often walled or fenced now and hedgehogs cannot pass freely and find enough food.

“A 5” (12cm) square gap in the bottom of walls or fences will help a great deal as hedgehogs can then pass from garden to garden eating all your slugs and snails on the way! Offering meat based cat or dog food and some fresh water will help them build up enough fat to hibernate successfully.”